Centrifugal compressor



Jan 1, 1929. 1,697,387

C. DUCAS CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR Filed May 4;, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MM 9) ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,387

c. DUCAS CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR Filed May 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ilaricsflucafi'.

BY MONA FA ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1229.

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CHARLES DUCAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR.

Application filed. May 4, 1926. Serial No. 106,702.

My present invention relates to an improvement in centrifugal compressors, of the type in which, through the action of a centrifugal rotor, and the use of a fluid, as a compressor element therefor, gases may be readily compressed and stored until required.

One of the main features of the present invention relates to the manner in which the two active elements, the compressive, and the one to be compressed, are kept separate from each other and are brought together at a predetermined point within the system whereby the gaseous element is compressed by the compressor element which is introduced within the circuit for a short period of time and both elements thereafter automatically separated.

One particular advantage of this form of construction permits the segregation of the compressor element so thatonly part of it is in' circuit during compression of the compressive element.

Another advantage of my present construction relates to the simplicity and compactness of the structural featuresinvolved, thereby creating a greater efficiency of operation and economy of construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compressor of the character described having mercury as the compressor ement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compressor of the character described having a continuously maintained column of mercury as the compressor element. 3

Another object is the provision of a compressor of the character described having a rotor provided with a rotor chamber kept under a head of mercury which provides the compression element, this chamber during rotation of the rotor being filled with the mercury and automatically maintained filled therewith after the compressor has been primed with mercury.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds, and while herein details of the invent-ion are described the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification and showing by way of example one of the possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of the centrifugal unit and its drive means, the casing of the unit being broken away at about a line 2-2 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the centrifugal. pump unit with one side plate removed, and

Fig. 8 is. a more or less diagrammatic view partly in section for convenience, outlining the coacting elements and circuit.

Similar reference characters denote similar parts throughout .the severalv views.

In the structure herein disclosed, Fig. 2, the centrifugal pump unit is shown as comprising a casing made up of two parts, 1 and 2, the part 2 in Fig.2 being removed so as to show the structural features oflthe rotor generally denoted by 3.

' Therotor 3 is a disk-like member mounted upon a pair of trunnio-ns 4 and 5 supported in suitably mounted bearings 6 and 7 which are preferably integral to the housing members 2 and 1 respectively.

lt'will be noted by referring to Fig. 1 that the rotor 3 is preferably of a semi-cylindrical form at its edge in cross sections as at X and that the interior of the housing 1-2 conforms to this construction. It is intended that this rotor shall be a close fit within the housing with a minimum of clearness therebetween'so as to eliminate friction and to prevent fluid losses during operation.

By referring again to Fig. 2 it will be ascertained that the disk 3 has a part of its periphery cut away leaving a chamber 8 formed between the housing and the flat peripheralsurface 9 of the rotor. This cut away portion terminates in a substantially flat pair of faces 10 and 11 and in practice preferably the cut away portion will occupy about one half of the peripheral diameter of the rotor. The surface 9 developed by the cutting away of this portion will be preferably left flat. y

One of the trunnions supporting the rotor, such as 4:, is provided with an open port 12 therein which openport is carried to the center of the rotor as at Fig. 1 and with an easy curve 13 passed upwardlyas at 14,.Figs. 1 and 2 and with another easy curve as 15 points up into the chamber 8 in a forward direction, this being indicated by the arrow 16.

At some predetermined point, a divertive port 17 is provided which may ;be formed upon one of the casing members 1 or 2 and the outer end of the port part is provided with threads 18 so that connections anay be affixed thereto as desired.

The opposite trunnion of the rotor passes out from the rotor and by means of any suitable flexible coupling 19 is connected to an electri mot lMr nt e r yp o m t Which is suitahly'mounted upon ,a ,hase which inturn is mountedpn a common base pump casing and ,the motor in driving" alinement n'e with the other.

' Both of the trunnions 4 and 5 are provided with stuffing ib onnectio s and 21mspectively whereby ato make these points leak proof ,ends, .Without .loss of the .compressive element during use, and ,the stufling box may be so developed as to have an inner ductflfihhavinq a threaded under ,portion ZQthereon tier ,t 1e punpose of receiving suitabl atta h n ma th n a d sir A number ,of constructive variations ,may be,madeupon,thedetails ofconnectionsherein sh ,In Fig. 3 thereis shown ,a diagrammatic outline of the proposed complete construction of my devdcean which ,like ,parts relattins-( th r r ar gn mber d as i 1 and 2 and ,in which yievv one of the rotor housings ,is removed in order to show the rotor itself in full lines.

{Before attemptingito describe the .action .of ,the circuit generally shown in Fig. 3, it should ,bestated that it is my intention {to e m rcu y a a compre so e men i h pump and thatduring the action otthe ,device vand ,when it is fully primed gfQI com- ..pression there is suflicient mercury carried inthe pump to ill the centrifugal chamber 8 with mercury,the-duct 14,t he. or ifice gland certain connections \yvhieh will hereinafter be described so that at all times, the ,rotor chamberand its appurtenant ,partsare kept under a head-of mercury so ,thatduring; rogtation of the rotor the chamber 8 ,is always filled with mercury and {kept fully supplied automatically after ,the system has been primed to a predetermined extent.

In order ,to OQmplete ,the construction of my circuit, by referring to Fig. 3 it will be ascertained that upon the threaded duct ,18 there is connected any suitable form of conpler 23 which in ,turn ,is attached to'the duct 9.4 which ,has preferably an easy bend 25 ,therein and .this duct 24 in turn passes in ,ivardly into and is received and supported by any. suitable vfomnoif' closure meanssuch spud 26 ,Which is attached to an enclosed preferably metallic gas receiving chamber generally denoted by' 27.

' The duct 24 at a rotary point of the chamber 27 is tapered as at 28 whereby the stream of mercury issuing therefrom may be con- .a .coacting tapering or funnel-like tubular member 29 Which is open at 30 forming the ingress for during compression and this in turn is connected to a duct generally denoted by 31 Which is also supported firmly and rigidly and in an airtight manner to th sa onta 7 by me ns of anqth spu imi a el men 2- v The duct 31 in the present instance a bend 33 and extends down tl irough spud fastenings 34 which areattacl ed to compression chamber, generally denoted by 35in a gastight manner. The lower end of (the duct; 81' within the chamber 35 terminates in a shortlength 36 which isopen atits bottom nd It n urn l ss trcea ed "b a e ing funnel-like coacting member 37 hich may be part of tubular duct 38 which passes gastight spuds 39 and after turning in an easy bend 40 0XtGl1ClSpfZQI to and is connected to the threaded end 22 of the sm li g b x con e tion 2 Th sa hold n compression chamber 35 is provided atone r ti theee w ta va ved, ne e y lqlo du ge e ally denoted by 4 wh h .duct vpasses into and is joined tothe all of th funn membe 3, so tha thr u h connection, the end valve 42 b Opened and theentire system primed with mercury so that the system be filled with mercury up to a level indicated by the lines AQ, s-

th le car yi g eutasom What h lnqint ha la y part f th ro o thereby insu 'ring a solid column of ,mercury wi hin th ro o and i previou y des ed ducts and whereby acolnstant level 01": such mercury is being maintained Withinthe rotator during the the operation. After priming as above describegh the valve 42 is closed.

The compression tank 235 is also provided with an outlying duct ge nerally shown as at 43 and is connected to a tank not shown, in a gastight manner so that when ,gas is being compressed andreceived in tank 35 it may escape at predetermined compres sion through the duct 43 thereof to be utilized in desired man ner.

The tank 27 is also provided itha gas inlet duct generallydenoted by 44 which is aiiixed tothe tank 27 ina gas tight manner and whereby gas may be let into be acted upon and be compressed as will now be described. I

WVith the rotor 3, the duct 38 and the "funnel S'T primed to the level herein outlined,

ithe motor M is causedto rotate therebydriving the rotor 3 in the direction of the arrow 16. I

This rotation carries with it the mercury mass that has been spread in the chamber 8 and this mass is caused to rotate ithin the rotor casing and when the rotor has reached predetermined speeds, it is obvious that the mercury will exert a considerable centrifugal force due to said rotation and will tend to escape.

The mercury escapes and passes through the duct 17 to the duct 24 where it passes outwardly through the jet nozzle 28 and into the entrance to the duct 31 and this action of the mercury will cause an aspiration to take place within the enclosed inlet chamber 27 and, gas being separated through the duct 44: such gas will be drawn into and through the coacting jet member 29 and will be driven forwardly by the mercury, and depending upon its velocity and the constraint exercised upon the outlying duct 43, the gas is forced into the container 35 under pressure and will there remain until released for use. A suitable pressure guage indicated by G may be provided for the container 35.

The combined mercury and gas stream passing through the duct 31 passes downwardly through the duct 36 and the mercury flows downwardly through the duct 38 and continues to keep up with the head or solid column of mercury therein, while the gas escapes upwardly and out through the coacting j-et nozzle member 37 and thereby fills the container 35 with gas under compression.

The return of mercury through the duct 38 flows back to the rotor in the direction of the arrow 45, Fig. 3, and passes through the duct 12 into the duct 14 of the rotor and from thence into the chamber 8, thereby maintaining constant supply of mercury within the chamber 8 and upon which centrifugal force is exerted due to the high speed rotation thereof by being driven around by the rotation of the rotor 3.

It is obvious from the foregoing that energy is supplied within the mass of mercury in the chamber 8 and that due to the one-half construction of the chamber, the duct 17 is closed for a one-half revolution, thereby cut ting oif the flow of mercury, and is opened for another one-half of a revolution thereby permitting the escape of a certain proportion of mercury from the chamber 8 so that the mercury is forced through the duct 2a in an impulsive and uninterrupted manner thereby to draw the gas content out of the container 27 and cause it to pass through the duct 31 into the container or compression tank 35.

hat I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a housing having an outlet, a disk-form rotor in the housing having means for containing fluid compressor element, said means being brought into and out of communication with said outlet by rotation of the rotor, and means for rotating the rot-or for thereby intermittently projecting the compressor element from said means into said outlet.

2. In combination, a housing having an outlet, at disk-form rotor in the housing having means for containing fluid compressor element, said means being brought into and out of communication with said outlet for periods of substantially equal duration by rotation of the rotor, and means for rotating the rotor for thereby projecting the compressor element from said means into said outlet,

3. In combination, a housing having an outlet, a rotor in the housing having a cham her, said chamber being brought into and out of communication with said outlet by rotation of the rotor, mercury in said chamher, and means for rotating the rotor for thereby intermittently projecting the mercury from said chamber int-o said outlet.

4. In combination, a housing having an outlet, a rotor in the housing and having means for containing fluid compressor element, said means communicating with said outlet by rotation of the rotorand normally out of communication with said outlet, means for primarily filling said containing means with the compressor element, means for rotating the rotor for centrifugally projecting the compressor element from said containing means into said outlet, and means for automatically maintaining said containing means filled with the compressor element after primary filling of said means.

5. In combination, a housing having an outlet, a rotor in the housing and having a chamber communicating with said outlet by rotation of the rotor and normally out of communication with said outlet, means for primarily filling said chamber with mercury, means for rotating the rotor for centrifugally projecting the mercury from' said chamber into said outlet, and means for automatically maintaining said chamber filled with the mercury after primary filling of said chamber.

' 6. In combination, a housing having an outlet, a rotor in the housing and having means for containing a fluid compressor element, said means communicating with said outlet by rotation of the rotor and normally out of communication wit-h said outlet, means for primarily filling said containing means with the compressor element, means for rotating the rotor for centrifugally pro jecting the compressor element from said containing means into said outlet, and means for automatically maintaining said containing means filled with the compressor element after primary filling of said means, the last mentioned means including a primary filler member and means cooperating between said member and said containing means and means cooperatii'ig between said. outlet and the primary filler member.

7. In combination, a housing having an outlet, a rotor in the housing and having a chamber communicating with said outlet by primarily filling said chamber with men cury, means for rotating the rotor for centrifugally projecting the mercury from said chamber into said outlet, and means for antomatically maintaining said chamber filled with the mercury after primary filling of said chamber, the last mentioned means including a primary filler member and a duct cooperating between said member and said. chamber and ducts operatively connected to each other and cooperating between said outlet and the primary liller member.

8. In combination, a tank constituting a compression tank, a filler member in said tank, means for supplying fluid compressor element to said member, a housing having an outlet, a rotor in the housing and having means for containing the fluid compressor element, the last mentioned means communicating with the housing outlet by rotation of the rotor and normally out of communication with said outlet, means communicating between said filler member and said containing means, means for rotating the rotor for centriiugally projecting the compressor element from said containing means into the housing outlet, a second tank, means for supplying fluid to the second tank, means communicating between the housing outlet and the second tank and having means for constraining the compressor element passing through this means, a member in the second tank communicating with the interior of the tank for passage of fluid from the tank into said member said constrainin means bein 7 ca t:

disposed in said member for discharging the compressor element into said member, and means communicating between the last mentioned member and said filler member.

9.'In combination, a tank constituting a compression tank, a filler member in said tank, means for supplying mercury to said member, a housing having an outlet, a diskform rotor in the housing and hav g a marginal chamber for containing mercury, said chamber communicating with the housing outlet by rotation ot the rot r and normally out of communication with said out let, a duct communicating between said tiller membcrand said chamber, means for rotat ing the rotor for centrifugally projecting the mercury fronrsaid chamber into the housing outlet, a second tank, means for supplying gas to the second tank, a duct communicating with the housing outlet and having a tapered end portion for constraining the mercury pass hrone this duct, a member in the second ving a tiaring mouth for passage of gas from said tank into the mouth, said end portion being disposed in said mouth fon discharging mer cur'y into the mouth, and a duct communieating with the last mentioned member and having an open end portion disposed in said filler member.

10. In a device of the character described, a rotor including a disk having a portion of its peripheral margin cut away for providing a chamber extending circumferentially of the disk for substantially onehalt the peripheral margin oil? the disk. I

11. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a rotorhaving a chamber for fluid, and means for rece ving fluid from said chamber, said chamber communicating with said fluid receiving means during part of the rotation of the rotor for projecting the fluid from said chamber into said. means and being out of fluid projecting communication with said means during part of the rotation of the rotor, the periods oi proi tion of the fluid from said chamber into said fluid receiving means and non-projection of the fluid into said means during rotation of the rotor being of substantially equal duration.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, a rotor including a disk having a portion of its peripheral margin cut away for providing a chamber extending circumterentially of the disk for substantially one-half the peripheral margin of the disk, and a housing for the rotor having an outlet, said chamber comn'mnicating with said outlet during substantially onehalf of the rotation of said rotor and being out of communication with said outlet during the other half or the rotation of said rotor.

13. In a device of the character described, rotor having a chamber and a duct pass ing through the rotor and communicating with said chamber and means forming a closed circuit with said ,duct for introducing fluid compressor element into the chamber.

1 1. In a device of the character described, a rotor having a chamber and provided with trunnions for supporting the rotor and having a duct passing through one of the trunnions and through the rotor and communicating with said chamber and means forming a. closed circuit with said duct'for introducing fluid compressor element into the chamber.

15. In a device of the character described, a rotor having a cut away portion providing chamber and a duct passing through the remaining portion of the disk and communicating with said chamber and means forming a closed circuit with said duct for introducing fluid compressor element into the chamber.

16. In a device of the character described, a rotor provided with trunnions for supporting the rotor and having a cut away portion of the rotor forming a chamber and a duct passing through one of the trunnions and through the remaining portion of the disk adjoining said cut away portion and communicating with said chamber and means forming a closed circuit with said duct for introducing fluid compressor element into the chamber. T i

17. In combination, a rotor of disk-term, having means for containing fluid compressor element, and a housing conformably enclosing the rotor and having an outlet'extending tangentially to the periphery of the rotor, said containing means communicating with said outlet for centrifugally projecting the compressor element from said containing means into said outlet by rotation of the rotor and being normally out of communication with said outlet.

18. In combination, a rotor of disk-form having means for containing fluid compressor element, means passing through a por-- tion of the, rotor and communicating with said containing means for introducing fluid compressor element into said containing.

means, and a housing conformably encl0s ing the rotor and having an outlet extending tangentially to the periphery of the rotor, said containing means communicating with said outlet for centrifugally projecting the compressor element from said con-' taining means into said outlet by rotation of the rotor and being normally out of communication with said outlet.

19. In combination, a rotor of disk-form fluid compressor element, a housing contormably enclosing the rotor and having bearings for said trunnions and an outlet extending tangentially to the periphery of the rotor, and means passing through one of said trunnions and through a portionot the rotor and communicating with said containing means for introducing fluid compressor element into said containing means, said containing means communicating with said outlet for cetriiiugally projecting the compressor element from said containing means into said outlet by rotation of the rotor and being normally out of communication with said outlet.

20. In combination, a rotor of disk-form having a cut-away portion of the disk forming a chamber, a duct passing through the remaining portion of the disk adjoining said cut away portion and communicating with said chamber for introducing mercury into the chamber, and a housing conformably enclosing the rotor and having an out-let extending tangentially to the periphery of the rotor, said chamber communicating with said outlet for centrifugally projecting mercury from thechamber into said outlet by rotation of the rotor and being normally out of communication with said outlet.

21. In combination, a rotor of disk-form having trunnions and having a cut away portion of the disk forming a chamber, a housing conformably enclosing the rotor and having bearings for said trunnions and an outlet extending tangentially to the periphery of therotor, and a duct passing through one of said trunnions and'through the remaining portion of the disk adjoining said cut away portion and communicating with said chamber for introducing mercury into the chamber, said chamber communicating with said outlet for centrit'ir' gally projecting mercury from the chamber into said outlet by rotation of'the rotor and being normally out of communication with said outlet.

- v'22. The combination with'a rotor having fluid compressor element therein and adapted for intermittently projecting the fluid compressor element into an outlet means, of a tank having fluid therein, a duct communicating at one of its ends with. said outlet means for receiving the compressor element therefrom, and a meinber in said tank for receiving fluid from the tank, the end of said duct opposite the first mentioned end being disposed in said member for discharging the compressor element into said member and thereby drawing by entrainment into said-member fluid from the tank.

28. The combination,

jecting the mercury into an'outlet means, of a tank having gas therein, a duct communicating at one end of its ends with said outlet means for receiving mercury therefrom and having at its opposite end a, tapered portion for constraining and discharging the mercury, a member in said tank having a mouth for receiving gas from the tank, said tapered end portion being disposed in said mouth for discharging mercury therein and thereby drawing by entrainment into said member gas from the tank, a second tank constituting a compression tank, a filler member in the second tank and having a flaring mouth, a duct communicating at one of its ends with said member of the first tank for receiving mercury and gas from this member and having its opposite end disposed in the mouth of the filler member for discharging the gas and mercury into the filler whereby the gas and mercury are separated, the gas rising in the second tank and the mercury being deposited in the filler member, and a duct communicating between. the filler member and the rotor for maintaining a constant column of mercury between the filler member and the rotor.

24. In combination, means for providing a constant flow of fluid compressor element, means for intermittently discharging the compressor element, means for controlling the flow of said intermittently discharged compressor element, means for introducing witha rotor. havmg mercury therem and adaptedfor pro-' a fluid into the path of intermittent flow of the compressor element after its aforementioned discharge, a. compression means, means for discharging said fluid and compressor element into said compression means and separating the fluid from the compressor element for. compression of the fluid, and means for returning the compressor element to, said compressor element providing means. V

25; In combination; means for supplying a constant stream of mercury to a receiving means adapted for discharging the mercury therefrom at predetermined intervals, means for introducing gas into the path of the discharged mercury so that the gas is drawn along by entrainment of the mercury, a compression tank, means for passage of the meronly and gas into said tank; and means for separation of the gas from the mercury for compression of the gas and return of the separated ndercury to said means for supplying a constant stream of mercury;

26. In combination, a rotor having a chamber for receiving mercury and adapted for discharging the mercury at predetermined intervals, means for supplying a constant column of mercury to said receiving means, means for introducing gas into the path of the mercury discharged from said rotor so that the gas is drawn along by e'ntrainment of the mercury, a compression tank, means for passage of the mercury and entrained gas into said tank, and means appurtenant to said tank for separating the gas from the mercury for compression of the gas and return of the separated mercury to said means for supplying a constant column bf mercury;

27; In combination, a rotor including a rotatable disk having in its peripheral margin 'a chamber extending circumferentially of said margin for substantially one-half the circumference of the disk, a housing around said disk having an outlet from the housing,

said chamber communicating with said out-- rotation of the disk, a duct for supplying a constant column of mercury to said chamber, means for rotating said rotor, a tank, means for supplying gas, a second duct cooperating between the outlet of the housing and said tank for passage to the tank of the mercury discharged from said chamber into said outlet by rotation of the rotor, said second duct having a constricted discharge end located in said tank, a compressiontank, a third duct cooperating between the first tank and the compression tank and having at one of its ends a flaring mouth disposed in the first tank around said discharge end whereby gas is drawn from said means of gas supply into the first tank and thence into the third duct by entrainment of the mercury discharged from said discharge end, the third duct having at its I other end a straight discharge end located in the compression tank, and a member in the compression tank having a flaring mouth disposed around said straight discharge end and having a straight stem portion cooperating between said mouth and the first duct.

28. In a device of the character described, a disk-form rotor having a chamber on a portion of its peripheral margin, and means forming a closed circuit with said chamber for conducting compressor uid to said chamber. I p

29. In a device of the character described, a disk-form rotor having a cut away portion providing aphamber extending circumferentially of the disk, and means forming a closed circuit with said chamber for conducting compressor fluid to said chamber.

Signed at New York in thecounty of New York and State of New York this 3rd day of May A. D. 1926.

CHARLES DUCAS. 

